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Sunday, April 17, 2011

Woodswallows

One of the great things about Daintree is that it is a mixed, integrated community with a healthy mix of agriculture and tourism driving the local economy. We don't always agree on everything, but we have so much in common by just living in this great part of the world.
We go birdwatching most days and are continually fascinated by new and interesting avian treats. Others, not birders, are also fascinated by the same wonderful things. Below are two photos taken by a local farmer of White-breasted Woodswallows nesting in the top of a fence-post on their farm. How they survive in such exposed conditions is a wonder. The last photo is of a pair of adults.
Of the six species of Australian woodswallows, this is the only one here in the coastal lowlands of Tropical North Queensland. Strong flyers, they can soar for lengthy periods, hawking on insects. They are extremely sociable and you can often see up to 20 birds clustered in together on power lines or fences. A particularly sweet little bird.